The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-23
HuNTINGToNs TESTIMONY CONCLUDED.
He Thinks Brokers Who Are Short on Central
Pacific Are Behind This Investigation.

NEW YORK. Sept. 22.-The members of the
Pacific Railroad Commission were. on hand at III
o'clock this morning to resume their labors
Mr. Huntington YVES not present At half past
that hour he appeared After some desultory
conversation, Mr.. Huntington took the stand
and the examination into the different letters
sent to Cotton was again entered upon. The
first was in relation to having convinced GER
tain Senator from Florida Of the advantages of
the Southern Pacific road to the Gulf States
The witness did not know whether it was Sen
ator Jones or Senator Conover he referred to-
He knew both gentlemen personally. The next
was relative to having California Senator
friendly to the road
Nothing could be extracted from Mr.. Hunting
ton this head except that Mr.. A. A. Sargent.
whose name Mr.. Anderson mentioned, would
have been a most admirable man for the posi-
tion He was we'll, and able, and above sus-
pcion. Following this came a letter comment
ing upon the advisability of purchasing Senator
Jones's (of Nevada) railroad. the Los Angeles d
Independence so as to induce him favor the
Union Pacific and Northern Pacific railroads
sinking fund bill. He bought TIE road. which
cost SIG OO0 for $500, 900. Jones was hard up
and witness knew it would make him take a
greater interest in the Pacific roads it he took
the other off his hands, SO he took 1t. Another
letter brought in Mr.. Huntineton's opinions of
Socialism and the Congress of 1878. "This Con-
gress is Agrariau camp. 1t is composed of
the worst body of men that ever got togsther in
the country"
do you recognize your sentiments in that
passage7" asked Mr.. Anderson. WELL of late
years | have remarked there has been consd-
cradle influx of these Anarchists and Socialists
themselves honestly, but have remarked that
So, 600 is great deal to them, and they will do
a lot for less"
Mr.. Huntington then entered into another
explanation Of how money could be legitmately
spent in Influencing Congress Mr. Hunt
ington knew nothing about the books of the
Contract and Finance Company. He knew that
after building the Central Pacific the company's
debts were big, and its assets nothing, but Cen
trail Pacific stock was of less value than the
amount. of its debts. Il never kept the books
of the company and carry most of my own Dusi-
ness memoranda under my hat" said he, land
that very seldom misleads me-"
The examination then went into the present
business management of the railroad. Mr..
Anderson then asked Mr.. Huntington if he had
any scheme for settlement to lay before the
commission to the trouble between the road
and the government. 1t was decided that Mr..
Huntington should prepare a report which would
be ready in fifteen days and could be annexed to
his testimony. The commission then adjourned
for luncheon.
DDS and men employed in starting the Central
Pacific. Every one went in at personal solicita-
ton. Only good, honest, thrifty men were
taken in, like Governor Stanford and Mr..
Croker. 'The government took away our
power Of repaying them quickly when it subsl-
died parallel lines That was not our fault.
We have fulfilled every obligation to the gov
eminent 1t is they who have broken the con-
tract The expenses at one time were enor-
nous Freight, insurance, provisions. every
thing went high during the war. Materials had
to be shipped around Cape Horn year in al
vance, and thus interest was lost.
At present the government owes the Central
$4,000 600 which it will not pay, and it won't pay
interest on anything it once has in its grasp.
The most expensive part of the road was over
the Sierra Nevadas. 1t cost Mr.. Croker more
than the contract came anywhere near paying
him. At time it looked like losing enter
prise. The risk was enormous, and it was not
until long afterwards that the profits showed
themselves. Witness read a paper showing the
following parliamentary expenses on some Eng
lish roads: The Brighton railway, Ca 800 per
mile; the Manchester & Birmingham, f5. 600.
and the Blackwell, ETA. 500. The solicitors bill
of the Southwestern Railway Company of En-
gland was f244. 0O0 taking which fact into con-
sideration the Central Pacifics expenses
very small.
Later Mr. Huntington asserted that the gov
eminent paid the Central Pacific less for carry
ing the mails over the Sierra Ne vadas than 1t
paid the level Eastern roads, to which statement
Mr.. Littler responded that he would like to have
official data of that assertion. il it true.
it was a very serious charge to prefer against
the government The witness promised to send
in the full particulars Mr. Huntington then
6eaLoo tnat ne believed bHere was more IMAM pol
itics behind the investigation. Numerous par
ties are short on the market of Central Pacific,
and l believe they are helping to push this in
vestigation to bring the stock down"
The witness stated he was one of the directors
OF the Pacific Mail Company. but never voted at
the meetings, he was more interested in the
railways which are antagonistic to it. Every
thing he did was in the interest of the railways.
Gen. Granville NJ. Dodge was the next witness
called He surveyed and conducted all the pre-
limnary engineering work of the Union Pacific.
and is now director of the company. He gave
his experience in selecting the route taken by
his road. the difficulties ENCOUNTERED and finally
the discovery of the best route across the Rocky
He went into the various details of
the cost of construction tho vast expense en-
tailed in certain sections of the work. and how
at one point the contractors failed and the com
pany itself had to do the work, and built forty
seven miles of track at cost of $67 900 per
mile. Adjourned till tomorrow.